Learn ArabicB1 › حَكَم

حَكَم

to judge /ˈħa.ka.ma/

verbB1#1783 most common

Also: to rule, to govern, to pass sentence, to arbitrate

Example sentences

حَكَمَ الْقَاضِي.
The judge passed judgment.
حَكَمَ الْمَلِكُ الْبِلَادَ سِنِينَ طَوِيلَةً.
The king ruled the country for long years.
حَكَمَتِ الْمَحْكَمَةُ بِبَرَاءَةِ الرَّجُلِ.
The court ruled that the man was innocent.
حَكَمَ الْقَاضِي عَلَى الْمُتَّهَمِ بِالسِّجْنِ خَمْسَ سَنَوَاتٍ.
The judge sentenced the accused to five years in prison.
مَنْ يَحْكُمُ بَيْنَ النَّاسِ يَجِبُ أَنْ يَحْكُمَ بِالْعَدْلِ.
Whoever judges between people must judge with justice.
لَوْ حَكَمْتَ بِمَا تَهْوَى نَفْسُكَ لَضَلَلْتَ عَنِ الْحَقِّ وَأَضْلَلْتَ غَيْرَكَ.
Had you judged by your own whims, you would have strayed from the truth and led others astray.

Conjugation

Present ActiveSimple Past ActiveSimple Future Active
1sgأَحْكُمُحَكَمْتُسَأَحْكُمُ
2sgتَحْكُمُحَكَمْتَسَتَحْكُمُ
3sgيَحْكُمُحَكَمَسَيَحْكُمُ
1plنَحْكُمُحَكَمْنَاسَنَحْكُمُ
2plتَحْكُمُونَحَكَمْتُمْسَتَحْكُمُونَ
3plيَحْكُمُونَحَكَمُواسَيَحْكُمُونَ

Word family

حُكْمjudgment, verdict, ruleحَكَمreferee, arbitrator
حَاكِمruler, governor
حُكُومَةgovernment
حَكِيمwise

Etymology

The verb comes from the Semitic root ḥ-k-m, which ties together the ideas of judging, governing, and being wise. The same root gives Arabic words for verdict, ruler, government, and wisdom. The link is old: to judge well is to be wise. The root has clear cousins across the Semitic family.

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